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November 28, 2007

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A retired Army general, Keith Kerr, just listed all his military credentials and then left the crowd silent by saying at the end of his video that he is "an openly gay man" and wants to know why gays can't serve in the military.

Romney was hit by Anderson Cooper with a past statement (imagine that) saying that he "look[ed] forward" to the day gays could serve. Pressed hard by Cooper about whether he had changed his mind, Romney plainly looked displeased. "This isn’t that time," Romney first said, noting the national security threats. He said the "don't ask, don't tell" policy "seems to have worked" and, toward the end, even drew some boos (it was tough to discern exactly why).

Kerr, present in the audience, was then introduced by Cooper and said he didn't feel as though he got an answer. Explaining why, he got his own boos (partially snuffed by some shushing).

It all made for some feet-shuffling and floor-staring among the gathered Republicans.

Oh, my tireless colleague Avi Zenilman back at Politico World HQ does an insta-search on Kerr and discovers he was on the Steering Committee of "Veterans for Kerry."

Another way to frame the question re: the candidates' answer.
If the problem is "unit cohesion" then would it have been acceptable to exclude Blacks from the military a few decades ago because it would have made Southern boys uncomfortable ?

Bill Bennett just brought up the point about Kerr being on a steering committe on the post debate discussion. Anderson looked 'surprised' ...wink, wink. Why would they have not done some research to know who this guy was? Obvious answer. They knew.

What advanced wasn't some "agenda", but the truth: preventing gay people from serving, honorably, is a bankrupt policy. It has never made sense. And the GOP has used patriotic gay Americans as fodder for far too long and needs to be called on it, loudly.

Anyone ever notice this about Romney? He always says stuff like dont ask don't tell SEEMS to be work. The surge is APPARENTLY working. Everything is so fuzzy and nothing seems certain with this guy. Could he please stop hedging his bets long enough to take a clear stance and tell us what he actually thinks? On the actual issue itself, I don't think the arguement about unit cohesion holds water. Men and women serve together all the time. Gays serve in the British and Canadian military and there is no problem. At a time when we need all the troops we can get to keep this surge going as long as we can I don't think its a smart policy to discharge people based on their preference.

Jesse wrote: "...I don't think the arguement about unit cohesion holds water. Men and women serve together all the time."
It was the same argument used before the Military was integrated. And was just as bankrupt an argument in that case.
It's also nonsensical to believe that NOT knowing which of your comrades is actually gay is more 'reassuring' than KNOWING which ones are. ("Gee...maybe that one is. No, no, THAT one. Uh oh. Uh oh. I am SO reassured that they can't tell me the truth!" It makes NO sense.)

It was weird for CNN to choose a Grover Norquist video in a debate ostensibly devoted to giving "the American people" a voice. Apparently, CNN aired Norquist's video to establish a precedent for airing a video by General Kerr, a Hillary surrogate. Was giving a Democratic campaign a question in the Republican debate (and an opportunity to respond) good-faith journalistic negligence, as Cooper claims, or knowing gotcha politics.

At this point in history, it is far better that you not know who is gay in the military and who isn't because gays are still being subjected to hate crimes. I hope that someday our country advances to the point where people can just accept homosexuality as a fact of life. It's here. It's always been here. It's not just a phase. They are citizens with as many civil rights as anybody else. However, if you haven't noticed lately...we aren't there yet. As long as Americans still use words like "Faggot", it's ok for gay people to serve in the military and discuss it with whomever they choose to discuss it without ever being required to disclose it at all.

CNN just confirms that this gay general was on Hillary's gay steering committee. you think they would have checked this before hand! Hillary mind you own business!! send the general back to CA and stay out of my foxhole.

tractorguy wrote, "CNN just confirms that this gay general was on Hillary's gay steering committee."
And what did the General say that was inaccurate about gays serving in the Military?
I personally don't care if the question came from a General, from Senator Clinton herself, or, for that matter, from Larry Craig. The question is a legitimate one. And the answers were not.

They shouldn't have had the Grover Norquist question because it was weak. But, one will note that his affiliation was listed right next to his name.
Kerr's link to the Clinton campaign wasn't listed next to his name; it wasn't even disclosed.
OTOH, this is actually a step *up* from the last CNN debate, which featured someone who used to work for the AR Dem Party and a former Harry Reid intern, among others whose affiliations weren't disclosed.

They shouldn't have had the Grover Norquist question because it was weak. But, one will note that his affiliation was listed right next to his name.
Kerr's link to the Clinton campaign wasn't listed next to his name; it wasn't even disclosed.
OTOH, this is actually a step *up* from the last CNN debate, which featured someone who used to work for the AR Dem Party and a former Harry Reid intern, among others whose affiliations weren't disclosed.

Who cares what sort of steering committee he's on? He's an American and has a right to ask a question.
The real issue is that the audience booed and shouted down a career military man in one breath for being gay and in the next applauded for the brave sacrifice of the men and women in Iraq. They didn't know he was on a steering committee, just that he was gay.
Pretend patriotism from Republican hypocrites!

The guy is also on Hillary gay committee. Apparently, everyone else recognized his name, except the 100 political democrats working at CNN. If this wasn't a plant, then the so called republican primary voter who is going to go with John Edwards definitely was. She is probably still reliving her butterfly ballot moment. CNN truly disgraced itself, once again. The political cartoon of Cheney -- can you imagine a caricature of Barak Obama? Haven't seen one yet. Only republican white men can be spoofed based on their appearance.

Giving video and studio time to a surrogate of an opposing campaign without labeling him as such makes a mockery of the concept of a YouTube debate with questions submitted by "ordinary Americans." If YouTube debates are a worthwhile enterprise, CNN is responsible for taking minimal steps to prevent infiltration of the process by clandestine campaign operatives. Regardless of the substance of the issue, this undermines the established rules of the debate and CNN's credibility.

CNN debate hijinks exposed.
Some folks on this blog are incredibly dense or partisan. Didn't see any Republican operatives handed the mic at the Dem You-Tube debate now did you?
I guess it would be perfectly acceptable to hold up a poster of a dismembered fetus and then ask the Donk candidates if the support Partial Birth Abortion? And then get to rant about whether or not I like thier answers?
How about showing Vietnamese mass graves and then asking the Dem candidates if we're going to leave Iraq to the same fate by unfunding the war? Valid questions right?

One of several ambush questions given the GOPer's tonight. Why they would ever attend a debate hosted by CNN, I'll never know. Romney's instincts not to attend were correct. This was a trap for all of them. Oh and by the way, as a serving US Army officer with additional years in as enlisted, let me say to all who I pray will listen: Open homosexuality in the military would be a catastrophic mistake. Not only for reasons already given, but when in combat blood in exchanged between soldiers on the battlefield in almost numberless circumstances. Imagine telling a soldier "Yeah, we saved you from the mortar wound, but now guess what Private, you got a bad transfusion... you have AIDS."

I would submit a litmus test. If you have not gone through boot camp for anyone of the services, I don't care what you think about gays in the military. There is no privacy, open showers, open bathrooms, etc. It is perfectly reasonable in that environment to not feel comfortable serving with a gay person in your platoon.
If you don't know what it's like, your opinion is worthless.

There were several "progressives" chosen to ask questions.
There was an Edwards support, a "progressive" cartoonist at the Houston Chronicle, some dude in another video who danced and sang a song about Karl Rove's resignation; a bunch of Ron Paul supporters.
Quit pretending this was the "people", or even Republican prmiary voters asking questions.
This was Lefty Cooper and co bending over backwards to help the Demorats.
Who takes CNN seriously? There's a reason they have, like, 15 viewers. The same reason Air America can't make a payroll.

LT, I have to say your point about blood transfusions was the stupidest, most outrageous, downright ignorant remark you've ever made. AIDS affects all americans, not just gay men. In fact I saw an article saying that straight black men were at a very high risk now. Do you want to ban them from the military? Its really irrelevent though because all servicemen and women undergo extensive medical testing regularily to make sure they are 100% healthy!

Jack Burton, there is very little privacy between men and women as well. That's why there are codes of conduct. If someone is having a problem keeping their eyes to themselves on a regular basis then disciplinary measures can be taken. I really don't think its a valid concern.

Jesse - Go express your outrage to the Russians. They quietly experienced an internal crisis a couple years ago where their military blood supplies were contaminated with AIDS. Imagine a crisis where an American division was in the line and taking hundreds of casualties daily during an operation... suddenly word gets out the divisional blood supplies are HIV contaminated. The only recourse is blood transfusions from live soldiers, present in the field (who wants a transfusion from a homosexual????) As a result, blood transfusions become extremely limited... we begin to lose KIA's due to blood loss. The men begin to figure out that many of their buddies are dead/dying because of AIDS tainted blood that had to be destroyed. You can imagine the insuing chaos and murder/mayhem of all known/suspected homosexuals. The resulting decay of combat effectiveness of the unit would be fatal to many more of our fighting men. Homosexuals in the military are a security risk. People who support this agenda are national security risks. I have zero respect for that %$#%#%$$# General. His career and his life is a walking, breathing violation of the Army Values that ALL soldiers are taught to live by. Make no mistake, liberals are treacherous vermin eating like carpenter ants at the load bearing institutions of our beloved nation. Liberals are slowly killing this country. If the pinko libs ever succeed in bringing down this country, my only consolation is that there will no longer be a recognized system of laws standing between me and them.

LT. you are so right on all counts, and why did they go on cnn, the dems would not go on FOX NEWS, so why not refuse to go on cnn. I knew this was going to happen, they were treated so much different then hillary and that bunch, blitzer was was a joke, but then I guess we should all be thankful it wasn't cafferty, everyone needs to go to cnn online and leave a comment at how shameful again their debate was. I am doing that next.....

Man, there were so many things wrong with the exchange. First, as has been pointed out, the questioner was a campaigner for the Democrats. Second, Cooper apparently forgot to note, as a point of fact, that the "don't ask, don't tell" policy was instituted witht he full blessing of the husband of the candidate for which the questioner worked. Heck, it was a full Democratic invention at the time. Third, Cooper let the guy bash the candidates by saying that he didn't feel his question was answered when the truth was that he simply didn't like the answers he was given.

The Democrat plant Keith Kerr might want to complain about Don't Ask Don't Tell to his fellow Democrats, as it was a Democrat-controlled Congress who passed that bill, and Democrat President Clinton who allowed it to become law.
And kudos to Jonathan Martin. Without your cluelessness in failing to notice that such a "powerful moment" was designed and delivered by a plant - a declared supporter of Hilary Clinton - we wouldn't have yet another demonstration of the slovenly thought processes of the MSM v. a blogosphere that actually does some reporting.
Is Poliico.com just Dan Rather for the web?

Now Hillary is planting questions in a Republican debate? This is too rich. I notice that they deleted the whole question from the rebroadcast tonight.
What are we going to get for the Dems debate? Rush Limbaugh?

LT I just finished telling you that people with aids aren't allowed to serve in the military. They have a thing called BLOOD TESTS. The blood supply would be safe. By the way, I think you're another Hilary plant. You don't sound like the LT who usually comments on this blog.

General Kerr, a prominent Hillary Clinton Steering Committee Chair, poses as an "undecided Republican voter."
CNN has truly earned the Clinton News Network moniker.
"Don't ask, don't tell" isn't a promiement issue in the Replucian primary. Because they couldn't even find a Log Cabin Repulican that wanted to ask about this issue, they had to plant this Clinton operative to further the Democrat's agenda. Truly Disgusting, CNN.

CORRECTION...
Jonathan, the first statement in this you describe Keith Kerr as an Army General, which is false. He was a Colonel in the Army and CNN described him as a retired General for the "California National Reserve," which does not exist.

A couple of things:
1) CNN should just come out and say that it's a partisan Democrat tool. Democrat operative plants at both debates? C'mon. The jig is up.
2) General Kerr, knowing his own position in the Clinton, and formerly Kerry, campaign, chose not to divulge this information. Just an "ordinary American", nothing to see here. His integrity, along with his reputation, just went down the bowl. And he's the one who flushed it.
3) For those critics who want gays to openly serve in our military: when your employer forces you to room and shower with a gay coworker, get back to me on how much it doesn't bother you. Until then, keep your social agenda out of our armed forces.

Not only did he work for John Kerry, but as Anderson Cooper had to admit after the debate on the Clinton News Network last night, he is actively working on the Hillary Clinton campaign. My understanding is that "Don't Ask Don't Tell" was signed into law by her hubby Bill in her first term anyway. She should be the one asked about this issue not the Republican candidates.

Jesse - BLOOD TESTS are a luxury for a PEACE TIME army. The next time this country has millions of men under arms in different theatres around the world, fighting for our very national extistence (and there will be a next time), do you really think there are going to be physicians assistants going up to the front and giving BLOOD TESTS in every fox hole?? What kind of concept do you have of a world war??? You had better wake the %$#%#% up.

ANY so-called military supporter of the likes of Clinton is a sell out to anyone who ever wore the uniform. You don't have to be republican but you sure as heck would have nothing to do with the likes of the anti-military, draft-dodging, dope smoking Clinton crowd

I thought there was something up the moment they went back to the guy in the audience to ask him if he thought his question was answered, then the guy goes on for another minute with, what felt like, a prepared rebuttal. My first thought was ?why is CNN breaking format and letting this guy get more airtime, general or not? No one else got to follow up their YouTube question after it was answered with an open statement, why him??. What a coincidence the general who submitted a question that was aired just happened to be in the audience, right there handy to rebut any answers given.
I was smelling something fishy, contrived and setup about the whole thing as I was watching it unfold. If CNN and the Clinton campaign are going to setup the Republican candidates like this they should hire better actors because that was an awful performance on their part.

Oh give me a break LT. First of all, army men have a history of picking up girls in foriegn countries, you don't think they have aids exposure issues? Pregnancy is also at an all time high for our service women, making me think that codes of conduct aren't be followed. These groups could very well have "bad blood" but you don't seem to mind them. Your association between gays and aids is about twenty years out of date anyway. It affects every part of society and every group now. Its just a flimsy, filmsy, embarssingly stupid arguement.

Jesse - I prefer to fight one battle at a time. It looks like you may be conceding (ever so slightly) the homosexual issue. Let's now move the subject to women. Yes, you are correct that they represent another big problem in the military that everyone is of course TERRIFIED to speak about on the record. They are in many instances more trouble than they are worth. I love/respect women (I have three daughters), but women are not strong/fast/instinctive enough to kill/destroy effectively and enjoy doing it enought to develop an good appetite for it. Take something as insignificant as sports. Don't you ever wonder why you don't see women in the NFL or in the Major League's??? What's more important winning ball games or wars??? You are also correct in your suspicion that the regulated rules of behavior instituted when women began coming into the military in large numbers are by and large utterly flouted by most military personnel. If the public only knew the stories... even libs like you would be absolutely shocked. In the first Gulf War 1990-91, 30% of all US Navy females in the Gulf came back to the states pregnant!! If that many were pregnant, how many were fooling around? What effect did these relationships (and all their attendant chaos brought to colleagues and family back home) have on our combat efficiency during the war and our society after the war? Its one thing to fight the Panamas, Grenadas, and Iraqs of the world but what happens the day we tangle with China, Russia, or another foe who can match our technology? Our discussion has been interesting, but in the end academic. I have every confidence that we Americans will continue to "screw off" --literally in many cases-- until we are severely defeated. Some day we will belong on the pages of history (I just hope whoever defeats us remembers to take the "high moral ground".)

"A retired Army general, Keith Kerr, just listed all his military credentials and then left the crowd silent by saying at the end of his video that he is "an openly gay man" and wants to know why gays can't serve in the military."
ANSWER: Because President Bill Clinton instituted a "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.

Hey, LT, if your problem with gays serving in the military has to do with HIV and blood transfusions, then why not just lift the ban on lesbian servicemembers? Lesbians are at the lowest risk of virtually any segment of the human population for STDs.

The real story here is that Cooper is gay and has not "come out of the closet" amid strong protest from the gay community. I'd bet that ole' Coop had a lot to do with this Kerr stunt because he is trying to appease the militant queers. He wanted to show them that he is on their team in hopes that they won't come out and ruin his career.

I find it amazing that in 2007 that are so many people who can't get past the issues regarding gays in the military. The bottom line is that those who are against gays in the military simply need to get educated and see how members of this community simply want to be treated with respect just as they would.
I have interviewed many gay military personnel for my podcast and each of their stories show great love for their family, the branch of service, the people they lived and served together and of course their country.

Jesse, you are uninformed about the military. During my years in the military, I had a physical when I went in and a physical when I left. The American Red Cross does not accept blood donations from active homosexual men, there is a reason for this. As far as your agenda is concerned, I have never met somebody in the military that thought it would be acceptable to have open gays in the miltary - there is no privacy as it is and it would be even worse with open gays. The 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' is the official rule, but EVERY military man I ever knew would force the issue if they suspected somebody of being gay. Those of you that have never served do not understand the sacrifices that are made by those who serve. At some point, the sacrifices would become too much and people will simply not re-enlist. Then you would have a draft military again because there will not be enough recruits to replace all of the people getting out.

WHEN I WAS IN THE U.S.M.C. AND SOMEONE CAME OUT OF THE CLOSET AND SAID THEY WERE GAY(BACK THEN CALLED A FAG)THEY WERE BEAT TO NEAR DEATH AND LEFT FOR SUCH!!AFTER SPENDING 20 YEARS AS A WEAPONS EXPERT IN THE CORP I DO NOT THINK IT IS A GOOD IDEA FOR GAYS IN THE MILITARY TO BE OPEN ABOUT THEIR SEXUALITY!REGARDLESS OF WHAT ANY RESERVE GENERAL SAYS!!
GUNNY JARHEAD....